Celebrate early or late at ComedySportz. At 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., the Family Show (appropriate for grade-school children and teens) provides hearty laughs and a special early countdown, while the regular show at 10 p.m. will be followed by an after-party with a champagne toast and retro dance party (the bar will stay open until 2 a.m.).

Mashup master Girl Talk will put on a party for the ages at the Congress Theater - while it'll be a bit less intimate than his last Chicago NYE show at the Empty Bottle, it'll be just as sweaty.

John Barleycorn offers an inclusive New Year's Eve party package including a premium bar featuring wine, domestic and imported beers and premium liquor, plus an upscale buffet featuring appetizers and more substantial fare.

John Barleycorn offers an inclusive New Year's Eve party package including a premium bar featuring wine, domestic and imported beers and premium liquor, plus an upscale buffet featuring appetizers and more substantial fare.

If you saw The Jesus Lizard at the Pitchfork Music Festival over the summer, you know the alt-rockers know how to throw a party. At Metro, David Yow and company will get a dedicated crowd already looking to get crazy (instead of many indifferent Built to Spill fans), so watch out.